Iran Says Significant Progress Achieved in Talks With US, But Final Agreement Still Not Near

Tehran, May 2026 : Iran on Monday said that major progress has been achieved in ongoing discussions with the United States over several contentious issues, though officials in Tehran stressed that a final agreement is still not close and warned that political inconsistencies in Washington continue to complicate the negotiation process.

Addressing a press conference in Tehran, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said that substantial understandings had already been reached on a large number of issues under discussion between Tehran and Washington. However, he cautioned against speculation that a breakthrough agreement was imminent.

According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency, Baqaei said no formal deadline had been established for finalising an agreement or broader understanding with the United States.

“A considerable portion of the issues has been resolved, but no one can claim that the signing of an agreement is near,” Baqaei stated during the briefing.

He pointed to what he described as contradictions and instability within the American political system, arguing that shifting positions from US officials were making negotiations increasingly difficult. Baqaei said that differing statements emerging from Washington within short intervals reflected internal divisions that had complicated diplomatic engagement.

The Iranian spokesperson remarked that policymaking in the United States appeared “disorganised,” citing political disagreements, resignations, congressional opposition and conflicting public positions as evidence of uncertainty within the US administration.

He also suggested that such internal divisions had created space for the influence of external actors, including Israel, which Tehran has repeatedly accused of trying to undermine diplomatic efforts between Iran and the United States.

Baqaei’s comments came amid heightened diplomatic activity surrounding the future of Iran’s nuclear programme, regional tensions and the security of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically vital shipping routes.

Responding to reports that negotiations were being conducted within a 60-day framework, Baqaei clarified that discussions during this period were mainly focused on working out details connected to a broader memorandum and regional security issues.

He stressed that Iran was not currently engaged in detailed technical discussions concerning its nuclear programme and insisted that the reported 14-article memorandum under discussion was aimed primarily at ending regional tensions and addressing broader political issues.

“The current discussions are not focused on nuclear technicalities,” he said, adding that Tehran remained committed to protecting its national rights and interests throughout the process.

Baqaei emphasised that any final outcome would only be announced after negotiations were fully completed and formally concluded.

The remarks from Tehran came a day after Marco Rubio suggested that notable progress had been made in diplomatic contacts involving Washington and Tehran.

Speaking during a joint press conference with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in New Delhi on Sunday, Rubio said there was a possibility of “good news” emerging soon regarding the Strait of Hormuz and broader diplomatic efforts involving Iran.

“I do think perhaps there is the possibility that over the next few hours the world will get some good news,” Rubio stated, while cautioning that negotiations were still incomplete and more work remained.

Rubio said the diplomatic initiative aimed to ensure that the world no longer had to fear the possibility of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons.

The US Secretary of State reiterated the position of Donald Trump that Iran must never be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon under any circumstances.

“The ultimate goal is that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon,” Rubio said. “Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon, certainly not as long as Donald Trump is President of the United States.”

Rubio also highlighted efforts involving Gulf countries to create a framework that would ensure uninterrupted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz without tolls or disruptions.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical maritime corridors, through which a significant share of global oil shipments passes each day. Any disruption in the waterway has the potential to impact global energy prices and international trade.

Rubio accused Iran of threatening commercial shipping routes and said such actions violated international law governing global waterways.

“This is an international waterway. They don’t own it,” Rubio said. “If we allow this to become normal, it sets a dangerous precedent that could be replicated in many parts of the world.”

At the same time, Rubio emphasised that President Trump preferred diplomacy over military confrontation and wanted the crisis resolved through negotiations rather than force.

“The President’s preference is to find a diplomatic way that these problems can be solved,” Rubio said, while warning that the United States retained other options if talks failed to produce results.

The latest developments come amid growing international attention on efforts to reduce tensions in West Asia, stabilise maritime trade routes and prevent further escalation involving Iran’s nuclear programme.

While both Tehran and Washington have indicated progress in discussions, officials on both sides have also acknowledged that major differences remain unresolved, leaving the future of any potential agreement uncertain.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)